A transgender former RAF pilot has praised British defence chiefs for publicly supporting their transgender members in the wake of President Donald Trump's proposed ban in the US military (Image: Niall Carson/PA)

A transgender former RAF pilot has praised British defence chiefs for publicly supporting their transgender members in the wake of President Donald Trump's proposed ban in the US military.

Ayla Holdom, 36, from Somerset was a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the force for seven years up until March 2016, and said supportive comments made publicly by senior members of the British military matter "hugely".

The pilot, who now flies helicopters for the National Police Air Service, said she was already aware of the military's appreciation and respect for diversity.

"I've heard senior leadership talking before proudly about diversity and the need for diversity. I have heard that before, so I knew already that we had their support.

"But to do so publicly and in such quick defence like they did yesterday was actually very special. It would have been easy for them to say 'well you know that we support you' and leave it at that," she told the Press Association.

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Ms Holdom, who served for a total of 13 years, said: "There's a lot of experience around the world of this happening. My personal experience is it's fine. It's already working in America as well. These people deserve respect."